Bektimirova Nadezhda

The “Chinese factor” in Russian-Cambodian relations

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2017, №34, 156-170

 
Annotation: This article considers the specificity of Russian-Cambodian diplomatic relations which celebrated 60 years in 2016. The author shows that in the 20th century ideological considerations, namely the political rivalry between China and the USSR, largely dominated bilateral relations. Nowadays both Russia and Cambodia are inclined to implement a purely pragmatic, non-ideological foreign policy, modifying it and their interests depending on the current situation. Thus, the ‘Chinese factor’ – China’s economic domination in Cambodia – can hardly become a major obstacle to the development of Russian-Cambodian relations, at least in the mid-term.

Keywords: Cambodia, Russia, China, foreign policy, political rivalry, international relations, economic cooperation, economic domination, strategic partnership